Is my Confirmation valid?

[DebChris]

I have to wait because I guess I have to go through RCIA, and they won’t let me join now.

My favorite Mass of the year is the Easter Vigil when new members enter the Church. If you are going through RCIA, that is when the Sacraments are received.

 

[psr13]

I know when it happens. They won’t let me in RCIA until next year, though, because it started four months ago.

 

[Corki]

Confirmation involves a personal decision, even if that decision was made as part of a family tradition (small t) or ritual…
That does not mean that you cannot make a mature personal decision to follow Christ. You will often hear this type of witness from Charismatics who received the Sacraments, but did not truly understand what they meant until committing their lives to Christ later and opening themselves to Baptism in the Spirit. As Bro Rich posted, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great place to recommit your life to Christ, not as mere ritual, but with full intent.
Important note: The Baptism in the Spirit is not a new Sacrament. It is being open to the gifts each of us has already received through Baptism and Confirmation. It is being open to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

A personal decision is not an essential part of the Sacrament. The three elements are proper matter, proper form and proper intent. The intent is of the Bishop (or of the priest if so delegated) to do what the Church intends, that it Confirm you.

While the time of your Confirmation is a good time to recommit your life to Christ, do so or not has not effect on the Sacrament.

If you are not properly disposed, ie not in a state of grace, you won’t receive the full grace of the Sacrament but the Sacrament itself isn’t invalid or imperfect in any way.

If my fellow posters are correct, it sounds like intention means NOTHING when it comes to the sacrament of confirmation. Can someone please document this for me? The OP rejected the sacrament, and thus did not have the intent to receive it (but simply went through the motions)…this would be considered invalid if a baptism. Why is confirmation different?

The only Sacraments where you have to have the proper intent to receive are Confession, Holy Orders and Matrimony. With the other four, it is the intent of the minister that matters, not that of the recipient.

You cannot reject the Sacrament while at the same time presenting yourself to receive it.

 

[LeroyCRHP]

It is church by church I think. I would still try to get into the RCIA class somehow. Waiting that long is not necessary.

No apologies needed. The church I was going to in California that is in communion with the Vatican didn’t have a problem with it. I wasn’t aware of the problem there. Now that I’ve moved, I’ve found out that there is an issue. I’m just frustrated that I have to wait for a year and a half.

 

[DebChris]

CCC1294 …The post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism in Confirmation and ordination is the sign of consecration. By Confirmation, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off “the aroma of Christ.”

CCC1296…This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial.

With Confirmation, we profess our faith (CCC1298). The Sacrament is generally conferred at “the age of discretion.” (CCC1307)

CCC1309 Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit–his actions, his gifts, and his biddings–in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church, as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.

CCC1310…More intense prayer should prepare one to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act.

 

[DebChris]

The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults* states, “The candidate should be in the state of grace (that is, without serious sin), be well prepared by prayer and catechesis, and be committed to the responsibilities entailed by the Sacrament” (p.205).
As mentioned in my earlier posts, I do recognize that some individuals make their decision to receive the Sacrament based on ritual and family tradition more so than a commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church. The Sacrament is nonetheless valid. This efficacy can lead to a later fuller commitment on the part of the individual as a faith response that leads to a release of the gifts already received in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My favorite Mass of the year is the Easter Vigil when new members enter the Church. If you are going through RCIA, that is when the Sacraments are received.

The Easter Vigil is when those adults who are not Baptized are Baptized, and if necessary those who are not Catholic are received into full Catholic unity.

It is not intended for those who are Catholic to receive Confirmation. Confirmation can be celebrated for an adult at any time with the Bishops permission at the persons parish, or the person can travel to another parish where the Bishop is celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

[DebChris]

The Easter Vigil is when those adults who are not Baptized are Baptized, and if necessary those who are not Catholic are received into full Catholic unity.

It is not intended for those who are Catholic to receive Confirmation. Confirmation can be celebrated for an adult at any time with the Bishops permission at the persons parish, or the person can travel to another parish where the Bishop is celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation.

This is what I found confusing. If psr13 is Catholic, why would he be going through RCIA?
I know that it is now common for the Bishop to provide Confirmation annually for most parishes, but that was not the case when I made my Confirmation. Where I lived overseas, Confirmation was only offered every two years. We did not see the Bishop any other time.

 

[Melchior]

Intention is very important. It constitutes one of the three requirements for a valid Sacrament. However it must be understood that the Intention is on the part of the Minister of the Sacrament, not the person receiving it.

First, let me thank everyone for their responses (more to come). Thank you.

Second, Brother Rich - your point about the intention of the minister brought up another concern. My eldest child was Baptized in a Presbyetrian Church where the minister spent most of the time talking about what Baptism is not, not what it is. He was wrong I now know. So it seems he baptized my daughter not believing it was anything more than an external initiation, effecting nothing internally - but merely a symbol. So does that mean my duaghter was not validly baptized since the minister did not intend to baptize her into Christ literally? It was Trinitarian and even triple immersion ala the eastern rites.

Is my daughter validly baptized?

Mel

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

First, let me thank everyone for their responses (more to come). Thank you.

Second, Brother Rich - your point about the intention of the minister brought up another concern. My eldest child was Baptized in a Presbyetrian Church where the minister spent most of the time talking about what Baptism is not, not what it is. He was wrong I now know. So it seems he baptized my daughter not believing it was anything more than an external initiation, effecting nothing internally - but merely a symbol. So does that mean my duaghter was not validly baptized since the minister did not intend to baptize her into Christ literally? It was Trinitarian and even triple immersion ala the eastern rites.

Is my daughter validly baptized?

Mel

Probably, he intended to Baptize her. He may not have had a specific understanding of Catholic theology however. It would be up to your pastor for seriously investigate it and if necessary take the apporpriate action if there was in fact serious doubt.